Taliban attack airport, base in east Afghanistan

JALALABAD: Taliban insurgents attacked the main airport and a foreign military base at Jalalabad in Afghanistan’s east on Saturday, Reuters witnesses and police said, but there was no word on casualties.

Smoke could be seen rising from the airport and explosions were heard, a Reuters witness nearby said. Helicopters flew overhead while the attack continued and the body of at least one suicide bomber was seen.

Nangarhar provincial police chief Obidullah Talwar confirmed the raid but had no further details.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said 14 suicide bombers were involved in the assault. AGENCIES

Arrests made over Afghan UN raid, Pakistan links seen

KABUL: Afghan security forces have detained three insurgents they blame for an attack on a U.N. compound last month and believe they have links to Afghan Taliban leaders based in Pakistan, security officials said on Saturday.

Four Taliban suicide bombers, dressed as police and women, attacked the main United Nations compound in Herat city, a commercial hub in Afghanistan’s west, on Oct. 23. All four were killed and there were no casualties among U.N. staff.

While the attack was repelled successfully, it caused concern for Afghan and NATO-led forces because Herat, once largely stable, is seen as an early candidate for the transfer of security responsibility from foreign forces to Afghans.

The pace and scope of such security transfers will determine when and how many foreign troops can leave Afghanistan. U.S. President Barack Obama, who will review his

Suicide bombers attack Afghan U.N. building

HEART: Two suicide bombers attacked a U.N. compound in the western Afghan province of Herat and several insurgents were now inside the building, local police said on Saturday.

Afghan troops were surrounding the U.N. building in Heart city, an area that Taliban and other Islamist militants are not very active in.

There were no immediate details on any casualties.

Mohammad Salem Ehsas, police chief of Herat, said two suicide bombers blew themselves up outside the building while several other attackers managed to get inside. He did not know how many fighters there were but said it could be up to three insurgents.

A U.N. spokesman in Kabul, Dan McNorton, said he “was aware of an incident affecting a U.N. office in Herat” and said it was ongoing. He did not confirm that an attack had taken place.

Militants attacked a U.N. guesthouse in Kabul

Karachi’s shrine bomber identified

Staff Report

KARACHI: One of the two suicide bombers who struck the shrine of Sufi saint Abdullah Shah Ghazi in Karachi hailed from Punjab’s city of Sialkot, SAMAA reported Thursday.

He was identified as Ishtiaq Zafar.

Law enforcement agencies conducted a raid to arrest his father Zafarullah and brother Imran, who managed to escape. However, Ishtiaq’s mother was taken into custody.

Speaking to SAMAA, Ishtiaq’s mother said that she came to know about the incident after seeing her son’s picture on TV. SAMAA

Initial report on shrine blasts submitted

Staff Report

KARACHI: The Crime Investigation Department on Saturday submitted a preliminary report on Thursday’s suicide bombings to the Crisis Management Cell and Inspector General of Sindh.

At least 10 people were killed and scores of others wounded after two suicide bombers blew themselves up in the premises of Abdullah Shah Ghazi shrine.

According to the report, three to five kilograms of explosives and belt were used in the two attacks.

The report said that suicide bombers used belts instead of suicide vests to carry out the attack.

The first blast took place at the main gate, while the second attack happened in front of Aukaf department office.

At the time of blasts, 23 private security guards and 15 policemen were on duty at the shrine. SAMA

Karachi grieves attack on Ghazis shrine; red alert across country

The Sunni Tehrik, along with the Jafria Alliance and Majlis Wahdat-i-Muslimeen, announced a three-day mourning besides a call for protest over the twin suicide blasts hitting Abdullah Shah Ghazis shrine.
The toll from yesterday’s suicide attack rose to 9.
Meanwhile, in view of the bombing threat, security has been beefed up at all the shrines and mosques, Imam Barghas across the country.
Heavy police contingent are patrolling the main routes in all the big cities to maintain peace during Juma prayers.
Two suicide bombers ripped through shrine of Abdullah Shah Ghazi in Karachi on Thursday, killing at least nine people and injuring 60 others. Taliban claimed the responsibility of attacks.

Terror strikes killed hundreds of Pakistanis in 2010

Staff Report

KARACHI: The government has failed to arrest the perpetrators of several terrorist attacks that claimed lives of hundreds of innocent Pakistanis this year.

In a surprising move, Quetta police Tuesday apprehended Allama Syed Hashim Moosvi, who was leading the attacked Al Quds rally in Quetta on September 3, 2010.

The year 2010 began with a suicide blast that killed 43 people in Lakki Marwat in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

On February 6, a suicide bomber ripped through the main Yaum-e-Ashur procession in Karachi, leaving 33 people dead.

A total of 39 people were killed in three separate bomb blasts in Khyber Agency and Bannu in February.

In March, suicide bombers targeted Parachinar and Lahore, taking the lives of 71 people.

Similarly, 14 people embraced martyrdom after being attacked by a suicide bomber in Mingora, Swat

Eight killed in Nowshera suicide blast

NOWSHERA: Eight people including three policemen were killed and 22 others wounded in a suicide blast outside house of Mian Iftikhar Hussain here on Monday.

Two relatives of Mian Ifitkhar also included among the wounded. Police sources said a suicide bomber tried to force into the house; on the occasion following the burial of Mian Rashid Sunday, heavy contingents of police were deployed to fend off any potential threat to law and order.

On being intercepted by a police personnel, the bomber blew him up killing eight on the spot and injuring 22 others. The injured were transported to Pabbi and Peshawar hospitals.

Meanwhile, CCPO Peshawar Liaquat Ali said search operation has begun in Pabbi after receiving reports of presence of two more suicide bombers near the house of Mian Iftikhar. He appealed the local residents to remain stay at their homes so that policemen conduct search operation smoothly.

Blast heard in Mingora

MINGORA: A powerful explosion has been heard in Mingora area of Swat, Geo News reported Thursday.

The gunshot sounds were also heard immediately after the blast.

Mingora blast kills 3, injures scores

MINGORA: At least three people were killed and 15 others injured in a huge blast in Mingora area of Swat, Geo News reported Thursday.

According to the initial report poured from the blast site, the blast occurred at the central bus stand of the city, which is usually a crowded place and was bustling with people at the time of blast.

The injured have been rushed to hospital in Saidu Sharif. Most of the injured are in critical condition. The relief activities are in progress at the blast site.

The blast was massive that at least eight vehicles and over 50 shops were damaged.

Soon, after the blast, the commercial areas of the city were closed down.

According to eyewitnesses, it was a suicide blast.

It should be mentioned here that a tip-off regarding the entry of suicide bombers was received some days ago, resulting in stepped up security arrangements in the city.

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